Celebrating the Arts in Early Childhood Learning

Drawing, colouring, crafts, and other creative self-expression are quick favorites with the preschool set. They love to learn new skills and make projects they can be proud of. It’s a good thing, then, that the arts are so beneficial for kids. Whether they’re making art, singing, dancing, or acting out stories. All these things they’re accessing important developmental benefits that contribute to their well-being.

The impact of the arts on childhood development is something worth celebrating! World Art Day, which takes place this April 15th, is an international, all-ages celebration of art and artists. This date was chosen to honor the birth of the great Renaissance painter and architect Leonardo da Vinci. His work’s impact across many other disciplines and fields is symbolic of the vital role of the fine arts in society.

It’s a great time to learn more about how the arts help our little ones develop, don’t you think?

Arts participation is self-perpetuating

Longitudinal studies have revealed that arts participation in early childhood is linked to more significant arts engagement throughout primary and secondary education. Which then furthers kids’ access to the ongoing benefits of art study ^[1]

Dance can improve balance and sensory-motor abilities

When preschool children participated in an eight-week dance program; they demonstrated significant gains in sensory-motor synchronization and balance. Compared to a non-participant control group [2]

Storytelling play encourages self-expression

A naturalistic study on the relationship between literacy development and dramatic play has identified engagement in “acting” play. In which children makeup and act out stories, as a creative motivator and opportunity to exercise self-expression, creativity, and imagination; these opportunities are important to identity development ^[3]

To learn more about the vital impact of the arts on whole-child development, take a look at this infographic from We The Parents.